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Honda choose to deflect accusations

Toyoharu Tanabe the Director of Honda's F1 operation is more concerned about the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix than he is with the accusations lobbed at Red Bull.

While some speculate that Red Bull's recent performance advantage may have come from some unauthorized developments from Honda, Toyoharu Tanabe, the Director of Honda F1's project, refuses to get drawn into a war of words. With Max Verstappen comfortably winning the Styrian Grand Prix, the Red Bull man is the odds on favourite to repeat his success at this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix. Tanabe however, thinks it would be foolish to become complacent. "I think each team will analyze this weekend's data and take the results into the next race," Tanabe told Motorsport.com's Dutch site. "Conditions can change and so does the tire compound. We will review the data to fine-tune the cars and power unit and prepare for next week. We want to maintain this trend and ensure that we can compete at the Red Bull Ring for two races in a row." Tanabe also briefly touches on how Honda have made their gains this year. "I think the power unit has evolved [in recent years]," Tanabe explained. "In order to complete the season with the prescribed number of engines, it is necessary to ensure reliability. So, it's improved in reliability and performance, the output of the combustion engine and the ERS (the electrical assist) and how to use them. "But I think most of all we've been able to improve the quality of everything from race management, to the mission room at [Honda headquarters] Sakura and the people in Milton Keynes."

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